Pressurized beverage container with twist removable cover

ABSTRACT

A reusable container for pressurized beverages includes a receptacle having spaced, inward projecting protuberances, inside the upper portion of a wide mouth, which do not interfere with drinking therefrom. A twist-off cover closure fits within the wide mouth and extends up, over and around the receptacle rim for sanitary reasons. The cover has spaced grooves, or cam tracks, for locking on the protuberances when turned and a concave-convex central portion. A resilient gasket on the rim of the receptacle compresses to affix the cover, and a similar gasket, engaged by the concaved cover portion, compresses for increased sealing under beverage pressure.

limited States Patent [191 Barry et al.

]Marcl1 20, 1973 PRESSURIZED BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH TWIST REMOVABLE COVER [76] Inventors: Arthur J. Barry; Lawrence J. Barry, both of 176 Cross Street, Lowell, Mass. 01854 221 Filed: Nov. 29, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 202,945

[52] U.S. Cl ..2l5/50, 215/40 [51] int. Cl. ..B65d 39/08 [58] Field of Search ..215/50, 40, 44; 220/40 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,251 12/1962 Mangravite ..2l5/50 3,451,576 6/1969 Lewis ..215/44 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney-Pearson & Pearson 5 7] ABSTRACT A reusable container for pressurized beverages includes a receptacle having spaced, inward projecting protuberances, inside the upper portion of a wide mouth, which do not interfere with drinking therefrom. A twist-off cover closure fits within the wide mouth and extends up, over and around the receptacle rim for sanitary reasons. The cover has spaced grooves, or cam tracks, for locking on the protuberances when turned and a concave-convex central portion. A resilient gasket on the rim of the receptacle compresses to affix the cover, and a similar gasket, engaged by the concaved cover portion, compresses for increased sealing under beverage pressure.

1 1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PRESSURIZED BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITI-I TWIST REMOVABLE COVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has heretofore been proposed to provide containers of the constricted throat type, such as milk bottles, soda bottles or conventional beer bottles, such bottles having a cap, cork, stopper or expandable sealing means, the latter usually fitting under an annular, continuous groove. Such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,396,337 to Moore of Mar. 12, 1946, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,153,807 to Kleinert of Apr. 18, 1939.

It has also been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,995 to Wagoner of Sept. 14, 1954, to provide a one piece wide mouth container for beer, with a continuous, annular groove around the inside rim which seats a concave-convex cover without gasket and without removability, access being by puncturing.

Carbonated beverages have presented serious packaging problems since achieving their initial popularity. The problems have related to maintaining pressure within the container, providing inexpensive containers which minimize disposal and safety problems, and providing containers which can be opened con veniently.

Once the container is opened, the carbonated liquid tends to lose its carbonation rapidly. For this reason, there has been considerable effort put into providing packages which can be opened easily at the place of consumption. Unfortunately, most such packages are relatively unpleasant or difficult for the drinker to handle. Moreover, they do not generally provide any suitable means by which they can be temporarily closed by the user if he wishes to effectively maintain the carbonation over a somewhat prolonged period.

Another problem encountered in packaging carbonated liquids is related to the. fact that such liquids are usually refrigerated and, consequently, provide a means for condensing moisture on the surface of the container. The liquid of course tends to run off the container, staining furniture, etc.

Thus it is seen that there is a real need for an improved means to package carbonated liquids.

The above objects have been substantially achieved by providing a cup-like container and a concaveshaped cover wherein the container and cover members are interlocked and sealed together.

This interlock is achieved by providing projecting cam, or lock, members on the inside of the cup member which, when the cover and container are in a first relative position, are freely releasable from the cover; but when the cover is turned, these projecting members engage with interrupted grooves, or cam tracks, molded into the cover and pull the cover snugly into the cup. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the projections lock into a recess depression at the end of each cam track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved reusable container for carbonated liquid and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a package from which a carbonated liquid may be conveniently imbibed-as from a cup.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container that is readily opened by hand without the need of any tool and is readily re-sealable to maintain the carbonation of the liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container the cover of which may be used for a coaster.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art on reading the instant application.

A somewhat resilient sealing compound assures a good seal between cup and cover. This sealing compound is preferably applied as a ring-shaped bead in a generally U-shaped groove in the cover which is adapted to fit over the perimeter of the cup opening. A second gasket ring is preferably applied around the cover at the lower and outer periphery thereof.

One particularly convenient feature of the invention is the fact that the cover can be utilized as a coaster when the diameter of the bottom of the cup is selected to fit into the internal diameter of the cover.

LII

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged section through the cup of FIG. 1 showing the gasketing useful in preferred embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. I, it is seen that a container 10, which is preferably of glass or the like, is formed of two segments 12 joined together along a seam 13 to form a receptacle l5. Container includes an upper integral sealing band 14 having a smooth beaded edge 11 and having, molded into the smooth upper inner face 17 of the wall 19 thereof, four spaced projections, or cams, l6. Container 10 also includes a cover member 18 which has an outer flange 21 with a gripping surface with a rough texture, such as provided by closely spaced ridges 22, to provide ease of turning.

Also molded into the integral inner flange 23 of cover 18 are interrupted, discontinuous interlock means in the form of four spaced grooves, or cam tracks, 30, one for receiving each of the spaced projections, or cams, 16. The central portion 24 of the cover 18 is preferably recessed and concave or concave convex in shape, to seal more tightly under carbonation pressure.

However, it is desirably curved only at such a radius that it does not reach, at its lowest central 25 point, so low as to depend below the lower peripheral base edge 26 of the rim 28 of cover 18. This configuration allows edge 26 of the rim to provide a flat circular support base when cover 18 is used as a coaster.

Referring once again to spaced grooves 30, it is seen that, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each groove 30 has an enlarged locking recess 34 at one end thereof. An enlarged outlet channel 32 is positioned at the other end of the groove 30. Thus, in practice, cover 118 is so positioned with respect to the spaced projections 16 on band 14 that, when the cover 18 is pushed downward, projections 16 enter channels 32. Then a clockwise turn of the cover 18 of angular distance or less results in the projections 16 being moved, usually following the preferably inclined camlike lower surface 33 of the groove, into a position adjacent to locking recesses 34. When the downward pressure on the cover 18 is released, the cover will rise slightly and lock the cover to prevent rotation until it is once again depressed. The seal between cover and the receptacle itself is gas tight after this locking action.

This rising action can be mechanically built into the cup because of the inherent flexibility of its materials of construction. However, since polymeric-type gasketing materials of the type known to the container art will usually be used, e.g., at 40 and 42, then the resilience of a combined sealing and locking gasket such as that at rim gasket 40 may also be used to aid the vertical locking movement of cover 18. Opening of the container will, of course, be achieved by simply reversing the above-described closing procedure.

The inverted U-shaped rim member 28 is particularly advantageous because, as has been seen, it forms a convenient top flange and channel 36 for receiving the detachable locking and sealing gasket 40. In addition, it protects the top beaded edge 11 from contamination and it helps to form a very convenient and effective coaster for receiving the bottom of receptacle 15. The concave central portion 24 of receptacle forms a dish for collecting water of condensation which runs down the walls of the receptacle. Moreover, projections 16 keep the outer walls of receptacle l5 spaced from rim member 28 and prevent the rim from interfering with the downward flow of condensed liquid.

As shown in FIG. 2, the concave-convex central portion 24 preferably includes an integral key 44 molded therein, for gripping by the fingers, or a suitable tool to serve as a central finger grip enabling cover removal. The key 44 is preferably cruciform in configuration so that the receptacle 15 may still be seated thereon if desired.

It should be noted that no continuous annular groove is used for sealing the cover and that reliance for sealing is placed on discontinuous lock means 46, consisting of the spaced cam projections 16 and cam track grooves 30. An excellent seal is obtained by locating the compressible sealing gasket 42, against a smooth, continuous annular face 48 of inner wall 19, under the cam projections 16, and opposite the periphery 50 of the concave portion 24. Thus, as the pressure builds up in the closed container, the portion 24 tends toward flattening while increasingly compressing gasket 42 against face 48.

As shown in FIG. 3, the interrupted, discontinuous interlock means on the inner flange 23 of cover 18 may be cam tracks or other projections 50, each occupying a short angular portion of each quadrant to co-operate with an adjacent protuberance, projection or cam 16. As shown, the projecting cam tracks 50 are ribs, or ridges, which may be passed downwardly in the spaces between the cams 16 and then be turned to engage under the cams, as shown. The inclined faces 51 of the rib-like cam tracks cause the cover to be cammed tightly onto the container. A horizontal terminal face 52 retains the cover in place.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the containers described above can be formed by any known forming process including, for example, blow molding or injection molding. In general, the materials of construction will be plastic or glass, but metal may also be used.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A carbonated beverage container comprising:

a receptacle having an open upper end forming a wide mouth with a smooth inner face, a smooth edge rim and a smooth outer face suitable for lip contact in drinking therefrom;

a receptacle cover having integral therewith a central lid portion, an outer flange extending around the outer face of said open end and an inner flange extending around the inner face of said open end down to a predetermined level;

discontinuous projections spaced around said inner face of said receptacle at a predetermined distance below said rim;

laterally, interlocking means formed in said inner flange of said cover, said means being adapted to detachably affix said cover on said receptacle when said cover is turned about ten degrees of angular distance thereon; and

sealing means between said cover and said container.

2. A carbonated beverage container as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said interlocking means comprises a set of discontinuous grooves recessed into said inner flange of said cover, each groove having an outlet channel at one end for receiving one of said projections.

3. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said central lid portion of said cover is recessed down into the wide mouth of said receptacle to a level below the level of said projections and is of concave-convex configuration; and

said sealing means includes a resilient compressible sealing gasket positioned between the peripheral edge of said lid portion and the adjacent smooth inner face of said receptacle;

whereby pressure in the container tends to flatten said lid portion and compress said gasket.

4. A container as specified in claim 3, wherein:

said outer flange terminates in a lower, circular base edge at a level below the lever of said concaveconvex lid portion;

whereby said cover is supported on said base edge when used as an ash tray, coaster, or the like.

5. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said sealing means includes a combined sealing and locking gasket of resilient compressible material seated on the rim edge of said receptacle under said cover and between said inner and outer flanges; and

said grooves are inclined to form cam tracks operable on said projections to squeeze and compress said gasket, as said cover is tightened on said projections, during turning.

6. A container as specified in claim 2, wherein:

said sealing means includes a resilient compressible rim gasket on said receptacle; and

said grooves each include a locking recess at the terminal end thereof;

whereby said cover may be turned by pressing downwardly thereon, to compress said gasket and said cover then springs outwardly upon release of downward pressure, into said locking recesses and remains locked therein under internal pressure from said carbonized beverage.

7. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said central lid portion is recessed down into said wide mouth and is of concave-convex configuration; and

said lid portion includes an integral slot of cruciform configuration, adapted to receive a coin, or tool, for turning said cover to detach the same.

8. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said central lid portion is recessed down into said wide mouth and is of concave-convex configuration;

said outer flange includes a plurality of ribs and grooves for providing a frictional hand grip surface; and

said central lip portion includes integral slot means for turning the same with a sharp edged tool.

9. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein:

the control lid portion of said cover is recessed and of predetermined diameter greater than the diame ter of the base of said receptacle to form a coaster therefor.

10. A reusable container for pressurized beverages,

said container comprising:

wide mouth of said receptacle, said cover having a concave-convex central portion recessed down into said mouth below the level of said protuberances, an inner flange extending upwardly therefrom to a top flange extending over said beaded edge, said top flange merging with an outer flange, extending downwardly outside said receptacle to a level below the level of said central portion;

a plurality of discontinuous, spaced apart cam track recesses in said inner flange, each receiving one of said protuberances for locking said cover on said receptacle; and

sealing means including a resilient, removable combined sealing and locking gasket seated on said beaded edge under said top flange and a resilient, removable sealing gasket located between the peripheral edge of said concave-convex central portion and the inner face of said receptacle, below the level of said protuberances.

1 l. A carbonatedbeverage container consistingpf: a receptacle having an open upper end forming a wide mouth with a smooth inner face, smooth edge rim and smooth outer face suitable for lip contact in drinking therefrom;

a receptacle cover having integral therewith a central circular lid portion of concave-convex configuration recessed down into said wide mouth at a spaced distance below rim level and having integral peripheral flange means extending up and over said rim and down the outside of the said upper end to a predetermined level therebelow;

discontinuous, rounded cam projections spaced around said inner face at a predetermined distance below said rim level and above the level of said concave-convex lid portion;

discontinuous, laterally extending interlock means formed in said flange means, said interlock means including inclined faces engaged below said projections, each having a horizontal, terminal face for locking retention therebelow', and

sealing means located between said flange means and the upper end of said receptacle. 

1. A carbonated beverage container comprising: a receptacle having an open upper end forming a wide mouth with a smooth inner face, a smooth edge rim and a smooth outer face suitable for lip contact in drinking therefrom; a receptacle cover having integral therewith a central lid portion, an outer flange extending around the outer face of said open end and an inner flange extending around the inner face of said open end down to a predetermined level; discontinuous projections spaced around said inner face of said receptacle at a predetermiNed distance below said rim; laterally, interlocking means formed in said inner flange of said cover, said means being adapted to detachably affix said cover on said receptacle when said cover is turned about ten degrees of angular distance thereon; and sealing means between said cover and said container.
 2. A carbonated beverage container as specified in claim 1 wherein: said interlocking means comprises a set of discontinuous grooves recessed into said inner flange of said cover, each groove having an outlet channel at one end for receiving one of said projections.
 3. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein: said central lid portion of said cover is recessed down into the wide mouth of said receptacle to a level below the level of said projections and is of concave-convex configuration; and said sealing means includes a resilient compressible sealing gasket positioned between the peripheral edge of said lid portion and the adjacent smooth inner face of said receptacle; whereby pressure in the container tends to flatten said lid portion and compress said gasket.
 4. A container as specified in claim 3, wherein: said outer flange terminates in a lower, circular base edge at a level below the lever of said concave-convex lid portion; whereby said cover is supported on said base edge when used as an ash tray, coaster, or the like.
 5. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein: said sealing means includes a combined sealing and locking gasket of resilient compressible material seated on the rim edge of said receptacle under said cover and between said inner and outer flanges; and said grooves are inclined to form cam tracks operable on said projections to squeeze and compress said gasket, as said cover is tightened on said projections, during turning.
 6. A container as specified in claim 2, wherein: said sealing means includes a resilient compressible rim gasket on said receptacle; and said grooves each include a locking recess at the terminal end thereof; whereby said cover may be turned by pressing downwardly thereon, to compress said gasket and said cover then springs outwardly upon release of downward pressure, into said locking recesses and remains locked therein under internal pressure from said carbonized beverage.
 7. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein: said central lid portion is recessed down into said wide mouth and is of concave-convex configuration; and said lid portion includes an integral slot of cruciform configuration, adapted to receive a coin, or tool, for turning said cover to detach the same.
 8. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein: said central lid portion is recessed down into said wide mouth and is of concave-convex configuration; said outer flange includes a plurality of ribs and grooves for providing a frictional hand grip surface; and said central lip portion includes integral slot means for turning the same with a sharp edged tool.
 9. A container as specified in claim 1, wherein: the control lid portion of said cover is recessed and of predetermined diameter greater than the diameter of the base of said receptacle to form a coaster therefor.
 10. A reusable container for pressurized beverages, said container comprising: a wide mouthed receptacle adapted to form a drinking glass, tumbler, stein, or the like, said receptacle having an upper rim portion with a smooth outer and inner face and a smooth beaded edge suitable for contact with the human lips; a plurality of discontinuous, spaced apart, camlike, rounded protuberances extending around the inner face of said upper rim portion at a spaced distance below said beaded edge; a cover closure, twist-detachably affixed over the wide mouth of said receptacle, said cover having a concave-convex central portion recessed down into said mouth below the level of said protuberances, an inner flange extending upwardly therefrom to a top flange extending oVer said beaded edge, said top flange merging with an outer flange, extending downwardly outside said receptacle to a level below the level of said central portion; a plurality of discontinuous, spaced apart cam track recesses in said inner flange, each receiving one of said protuberances for locking said cover on said receptacle; and sealing means including a resilient, removable combined sealing and locking gasket seated on said beaded edge under said top flange and a resilient, removable sealing gasket located between the peripheral edge of said concave-convex central portion and the inner face of said receptacle, below the level of said protuberances.
 11. A carbonated beverage container consisting of: a receptacle having an open upper end forming a wide mouth with a smooth inner face, smooth edge rim and smooth outer face suitable for lip contact in drinking therefrom; a receptacle cover having integral therewith a central circular lid portion of concave-convex configuration recessed down into said wide mouth at a spaced distance below rim level and having integral peripheral flange means extending up and over said rim and down the outside of the said upper end to a predetermined level therebelow; discontinuous, rounded cam projections spaced around said inner face at a predetermined distance below said rim level and above the level of said concave-convex lid portion; discontinuous, laterally extending interlock means formed in said flange means, said interlock means including inclined faces engaged below said projections, each having a horizontal, terminal face for locking retention therebelow; and sealing means located between said flange means and the upper end of said receptacle. 